Good eating habits and dental care should be the top priority for optimal oral health. Inculcating good and healthy habits in toddlers from a young age is crucial and is beneficial in the long run. Taking care of primary teeth helps protect the permanent teeth that erupt in the future. Making wise dietary choices is a vital part of tips for toddler’s oral health. It will help promote good oral health and wellness in your toddlers.
This comprehensive blog will explore the importance of diet and healthy oral habits for improved oral health. We will also highlight some useful tips for toddler’s oral health that can make all the difference in their smiles.
Why is Diet Important in Oral Health?
Diet and nutrition aren’t just crucial for overall health, they are equally vital for oral health. Neglecting oral health can increase the risk of various dental issues, which, in turn, can impact the overall well-being. Thus, it is essential to prioritize your toddler’s oral health to maintain optimal wellness. A healthy, and well-balanced nutrition is essential for your toddler’s growth and development and also for establishing a healthy oral cavity (1a).
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), toddlers require a balanced dose of all the essential nutrients needed for healthy growth and development. Healthy teeth and gums are crucial since a healthy oral cavity acts as a healthy gateway to other systems in the body (2). A good and well-balanced diet must contain the right amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and fats needed for optimal growth and development.
Lack of essential nutrients can result in nutritional deficiencies, increasing the risk of oral problems, especially tooth decay. Special attention must be given to the foods consumed, especially when it comes to the sugar content in them (1b).
Top 5 Tips For Toddler’s Healthier Teeth
Maintaining oral health is very important for kids. The below given tips will come in handy for you to help inculcate good oral hygiene habits in your toddler.
1. Give Bottles The Right Way
Be careful while you bottle-feed your kid and give it the right way. Never fill the bottle with sugary drinks, since it is meant for breast milk, water, and formula. Avoid giving your toddler a bottle at night to fall asleep since the sugar from the milk pool around the teeth can damage them (3). Remember to brush their teeth at night after a feeding session to remove any residual sugar.
2. Select The Right Sippy Cup
While you transition from breastfeeding, the best way is to shift to a sippy cup. This prevents the pooling of sugar around the teeth. Dentists recommend choosing an open sippy cup, a free-flowing cup, or a beaker. And it is always advisable to choose a straw cup rather than a soft spout cup (4).
3. Make Smart Choices in Drinks
Keep your toddler away from sugary beverages and carbonated drinks. These can pool around the teeth and favor plaque accumulation that can demineralize their tooth enamel leading to tooth decay and cavities. Always give your toddler plain milk, water, or fresh fruit juice without sugar (5).
4. Give Sweets in Moderation
Sugar can negatively impact your toddler’s oral health by promoting increased plaque accumulation and acid formation that erode the tooth enamel. Give sugary foods and drinks in moderation to your toddler, and have them brush their teeth after they consume sugar items like candies, chewy caramels, or cookies.
5. Inculcate Good Hygiene Habits
The most important aspect of good oral health is practicing good oral hygiene habits. Inculcate healthy habits like brushing and be a role model for your toddler when it comes to oral care. Brushing the teeth with a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste can help remove plaque and other toxins that harm their teeth and gums. Demonstrate correct brushing techniques to them (6).
The food your toddler eats has a significant impact on their oral health. Consuming a teeth-friendly diet rich in essential nutrients will benefit them in the long run and safeguard the integrity of their permanent teeth. Helping your toddler make wise dietary choices and learning healthy oral habits early on can prevent many future oral health problems from ever occurring, and the sooner they start, the better. These tips for toddler’s oral health will surely help you in doing this.
FAQ’s
1. What Are The Healthy Dental Habits For Kids?
An important healthy dental habit for kids is brushing their teeth twice daily using a soft-bristled toothbrush with pea-sized amounts of fluoride toothpaste. The next important aspect for improved oral health is a well-balanced diet with all the essential nutrients for healthy and strong teeth and gums.
2. What is The Role of Nutrition in Kid’s Oral Health?
Diet and nutrition play a pivotal role in maintaining oral health in toddlers. Consuming a teeth-friendly diet rich in proteins, calcium, and vitamins is essential to promote oral health. Furthermore, refraining from excess sugar consumption can prevent oral problems like tooth decay and gum disease.
References
- Naidoo S, Myburgh N. Nutrition, oral health and the young child. Matern Child Nutr. 2007 Oct;3(4):312-21. doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2007.00115.x. PMID: 17824859; PMCID: PMC6860753. – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6860753/
- “Diet, Nutrition, and Oral Health”, Pediatric Nutrition (Sponsored Member Benefit), Ronald E. Kleinman, MD, FAAP, Frank R. Greer, MD, FAAP – https://publications.aap.org/aapbooks/book/684/chapter-abstract/8229572/Diet-Nutrition-and-Oral-Health?
- Tungare S, Paranjpe AG. Diet and Nutrition to Prevent Dental Problems. [Updated 2023 Jul 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534248/
- Ben-Avraham S, Hyden CJ, Fletcher J, Bonuck KA. Bottle and sippy cup use is associated with diet and energy intake in toddlers. Matern Child Nutr. 2015 Oct;11(4):845-58. doi: 10.1111/mcn.12114. Epub 2014 May 1. PMID: 24784143; PMCID: PMC6860220. – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6860220/
- Chi DL, Scott JM. Added Sugar and Dental Caries in Children: A Scientific Update and Future Steps. Dent Clin North Am. 2019 Jan;63(1):17-33. doi: 10.1016/j.cden.2018.08.003. Epub 2018 Oct 29. PMID: 30447790; PMCID: PMC6242348. – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6242348/
- Chawłowska E, Karasiewicz M, Lipiak A, Cofta M, Fechner B, Lewicka-Rabska A, Pruciak A, Gerreth K. Exploring the Relationships between Children’s Oral Health and Parents’ Oral Health Knowledge, Literacy, Behaviours and Adherence to Recommendations: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 8;19(18):11288. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191811288. PMID: 36141563; PMCID: PMC9517628. – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9517628/
